Birch Press Design

Category: Contour Layers

  • Summer Florals | by April Antonio

    Summer Florals | by April Antonio

    Hello and happy Saturday! Welcome back to the Birch Press Design blog. April here sharing a new card project. I am really excited about today’s post because I have been struggling with incorporating more color when I use the layering dies and finally made a card that I feel matches what I saw in my head.

    Today’s card started with some inspiration from a color palette I found online that I really liked. I like to save color palettes I like to a folder on my phone, and then look them up when I need some crafting inspiration.

    The photo above is the color palette that I found. I just love the teal and pinks. Now, it’s not an exact match, but close enough for me.

    I started by pulling the Flora Plate Layer die set, and choosing three of the above colors that I thought would layer well together.

    From what I know about color (which isn’t much!) I thought the lighter colors would be best on top, and the darker colors on the bottom.

    So I purposely cut the top layer from the light blue, the bottom layer from the darker teal, and added the fuschia color in the middle of the sandwich to break up the blue colors.

    Next, I grabbed that same teal color from the bottom layer and decided I wanted to highlight it on top by using it with the Big Thanks Sugar Script. I cut the ‘thanks’ in the teal and the shadow from white in order to anchor the thanks better to the page.

    Lastly, I grabbed my Christmas Fairy Jewels pack and placed some of the teal jewels across the top and bottom rows of the card.

    That is the finished card! I really love the pierced details on this top layer, and how dynamic the fuchsia color looks as it peeks from behind the layers.

    Supplies

    57437 Flora Plate Layer Set

    57142 Big Thanks Sugar Script

    Supplies

    jwl005 Christmas Fairy Jewels

  • Golden Thanks and Soothing Florals | by April Antonio

    Golden Thanks and Soothing Florals | by April Antonio

    Welcome back to the Birch Press Design blog! April here sharing a slimline card project using the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers die set and the new Thanks Sugar Script hot foil plate and die set.

    I started this card off with a piece of the white woodgrain cardstock by cutting it to be slightly smaller than a 4″ x 9″ slimline card base. I love the white woodgrain cardstock because it adds some subtle texture to the design.

    Next, I used some really pretty blues from the Ocean Blue cardstock collection to cut the flower layers multiple times and colors from the Lush Green collection to cut the leaf bases out. For some reason I was compelled to cut the top part of the leaves and the flower stamen from white cardstock and ink blend them orange and green — I think I was just in the mood to ink blend!

    Next, I assembled each flower and leaf using the layers I cut out and the instructions that accompanied the die set. Then I arranged them on the card front making sure to leave space for the hot foil thanks that was foiled onto white cardstock. The hot foil is so pretty and the photos just don’t do it justice!

    Once everything was in the a place I felt comfortable with, I folded the ends of the flowers up so they curved a bit. Then I glued the flowers and leaves down using liquid glue. I made sure with the flowers to only glue the center, leaving space for the curved corners to add some dimension to the card.

    I adhered the thanks with some thin pieces of foam tape, and added a few clear dots around the card to be the ‘water droplets’.

    I really like this new Tropical Hibiscus die set, and how easily I could layer the pieces together. Also, whether you are using multiple cardstock colors, or just ink blending white pieces, the results will look beautiful.

    I hope this post has inspired you to go play with your supplies and check out all the wonderful layering dies that Birch Press has to offer.

    Supplies

    57486 Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers

    bpf515 Thanks Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    sp1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    sp1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack

    sh44001 White Woodgrain Paper

  • Bright Berries | By Seeka

    Bright Berries | By Seeka

    Hello and welcome! Seeka here and today I’m sharing a fresh bunch of golden berries on this clean and simple card. For this card, I combined berries from the Eucalyptus Stem and Berries die set with leaves from the Fuddled Leaf Branches die set.

    To start, I cut two sets of the large Fuddled Leaf branches as well as two sets of the berry stems from green cardstock. Then I cut two sets of berries from a deep yellow cardstock (check the Lush Green and Sunny Orange 6×6 cardstock packs for great color options). I glued the berries to their stems and then set the die cut pieces aside.

    Next, I cut the hello sentiment (from the Hello Topper die set) once from the same yellow cardstock as I used for the berries, and twice from heavy white cardstock. I stacked and glued the three pieces together, with the yellow piece on top, and then I glued the sentiment to the shadow layer which I cut from white cardstock.

    Next, I used the Pinpoint Radial Plate to cut a piece of white cardstock. I used a rounded rectangle die on both this panel as well as the hello sentiment and then used foam tape to adhere them together.

    To assemble the rest of the card, I tucked the foliage and berries behind the sentiment and selectively added glue to hold them to the background at just a few spots, letting some of the leaves and berries lift away from the background panel. I finished by using foam tape to adhere the card front to a 4.25″ x 5.5″ card base.

    Thank you so much for visiting!

    Supplies

     

     

    57500 Fuddled Leaf Branches Contour Layers

     

     

    57496 Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layers

     

     

    57313 Hello Topper

     

     

    57384 Pinpoint Radial Plate

     

     

    57490 Simple Butterfly Contour Layers

     

     

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

     

     

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

     

  • Simple Floral Wreath | by Toni M Maddox

    Simple Floral Wreath | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a card that I would call any occasion. Honestly this is among my favorite type of card to make as I can use it for about anything: sympathy, friendship, encouragement, you name it.

    I started the card by using the Epiphany Plate Layer A with a rubber mat to emboss/impress the card front. The texture is amazing but really hard to capture in a photo.

    Next I cut out the Mandala Card Frame, using the circle as a wreath. I sponged it lightly with Distress Oxide Vintage Photo for a tiny bit of contrast against that white base. Notice now the circle fits perfectly in the Epiphany Plate center?!

    To decorate the wreath, I watercolored the Star Flowers Contour Layers blossoms with Zigs and adhered them along with a few Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour Layers cut from Memory Box Lush Green 6×6 cardstock.

    I nestled the Big Hugs Sugar Script diecut amongst the foliage. So pretty!

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and have a great rest of your week.

    Supplies

    Big Hugs Sugar Script

    Mandala Card Frame

    57250 Epiphany Plate Layer A

    56098 Epiphany Plate Layer Set

    57501 Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour Layers

    57505 Star Flowers Contour Layers

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

  • Tropical Hibiscus Friends

    Tropical Hibiscus Friends

    Hello, Birch Press Friends! Allison here, and today I’m sharing a card featuring the new Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers die set.

    I started by cutting all of the pieces of the flowers from white card stock. I then blended Distress Ink onto the pieces, but in a very subtle way. The most intense color is on the edges of the bottom piece, the outside edges of the top detail layer, and the center. My initial inspiration for this came from images of white hibiscus that I found online.

    To add dimension, I created duplicate layers of the bottom piece and the top detail pieces, before adhering all of the layers together with liquid glue. In order to determine the layout of my design, I first selected my sentiment and, before stamping it, arranged the flowers around it. Once I was happy with the layout, I removed the flowers and stamped the sentiment with VersaMark Ink. I heat embossed it with a platinum embossing powder and then repeated the process, which really gives the sentiment more of a rounded, smooth finish.

    I adhered the flowers to the stamped card panel with liquid glue, adding foam tape to the back of the pink and blue flowers. I then mounted that onto a warm gray A2 card base. As a finishing touch, I added matching Fairy Jewels to the centers of each flower. Even though these flowers don’t have a lot of color, the texture of all the layers really packs a punch.

    Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope this card inspires you and brings a smile to your face!

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


    Supplies


    57486 Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers
    CL509 Colorful Life clear stamp set
    JWL002 Pastel Jewels
    JWL003 Bright Jewels

  • Mixed Media Fun with Die Cutting | By Natasha Vacca

    Hello Crafty friends – it is Natasha here and I am excited to be back up on the Birch Press Blog today! Today I am sharing a fun and easy way to use your layering dies, as well as the Simple Dragonfly Contour dies to create a colorful mixed media card! So let’s get started!

    For today’s card I started with the Grace Layering die set and a gelli print background from my stash. I chose layer A and followed the directions on my die cutting machine for creating an impression on paper using your dies. This was super easy to do and created a beautiful impression on my gel print background!

    Next I used several oxide inks from my stash and ink blended around the edges of the print. The Grace layering set created a beautiful impression on my print and I used the inks to add a bit more texture to the raised sections of the background panel.

    Once my ink blending was complete I added some distressed edges to my panel. I then added a bit more texture using embossing glaze and a crayon. Once my panel was complete, I set it aside.

    I love using die cuts and embossing powder together and the Simple Dragonfly Contour Layering dies are perfect for a colorful mixed media vibe! I die cut 3 dragonflies on white cardstock. I then adhered the dragonfly wings together using liquid glue. Then I chose 3 colors of embossing powder and heat set each of the wings and antennae. I then adhered these together with liquid glue and added foam tape behind the wings. I then adhered the background panel to an A2 card base and adhered my dragonflies to the card panel. To complete my card I added a Handwritten Thanks and Outline sentiment die. I die cut the shadow layer in white and the inner script thanks using the Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad. I adhered these together and added foam tape to the back for added dimension. I added a sub sentiment from my stash to complete my card.

    Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this card inspires you to use your layering dies to dry emboss a panel and to create a mixed media card using your dies! I will be back soon!

    57487 Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers
    57420 Handwritten Thanks and Outline
    Grace Layer A
    Grace Layer B
    Grace Layer C
    FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6×6 pack
  • Hope You’re Feeling Better Eucalyptus | by Crystal Komara

    Hope You’re Feeling Better Eucalyptus | by Crystal Komara

    Hello Birch Press Design readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara sharing a CAS (Clean and Simple) card with you today featuring the new Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layering dies. Because I intended for this card to be very simple, I wanted to create a card without using the layering part of the dies, so here is what the dies look like quite simply on their own when cut from a rainbow array of cardstock. Add a gold heat embossed sentiment (any message will do!) and you have an elegant and easy card in no time flat!

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4 x 4″ piece of this same cardstock as the first layer. On that layer I stamped the sentiment “hope you’re feeling better” in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

    Using the Eucalyptus stems, I cut multiple stems from colored cardstock. I used the following 6″ paper packs:

    -Lush Green

    -Sunny Orange

    -Berry Red

    -Ocean Blue

    I adhered the stems directly to the center of the card and then I added a small white ribbon at the base of the stems for added texture.

    I hope you have enjoyed today’s CAS card. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    CL8157 Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set

    57496 Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layers

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack

  • Heart to Heart Thanks | by April Antonio

    Heart to Heart Thanks | by April Antonio

    Happy Friday! April here sharing an elegant, easy to pull together thank you card.

    To start this card I grabbed on of my favorites, the Kinsley Heart Plate Layering set. I cut out all three layers with Layer A and C cut from white cardstock, and Layer I glued all three layers together using liquid glue.

    I created an A2 card base from a piece of red cardstock, and glued the Kinsley Heart layer onto the card front. This is why the inside of the heart is red — the base is shining through.

    Next, I took the Pimpernel Contour layering set to cut the flowers from red, foil cardstock and the leaves from green, glitter cardstock. I adhered them to the lower right of the card front, ensuring I glued the center of the flowers only, to leave the petals free to bend up a little bit.

    For the sentiment, I used the Kind Hearts Clear Stamp set to heat emboss ‘thank you’ with black pigment ink and clear embossing powder. I cut this out and glued it to the center of the card front.

    Lastly, I added a couple of clear dots from the Christmas Fairy Crystals set to the center of the flowers

    That is it! The layering sets make it super easy and fun to pull together cards. I hope this inspires you to go create and have fun

    Supplies

    57402 Kinsley Heart Plate Layer Set

    CL8163 Kind Hearts clear stamp set

    57488 Pimpernel Contour Layers

    SP1009 Earth Neutral 6×6 pack

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

    CRY102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

    FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6×6 pack

  • Summer Hugs | by Toni M Maddox

    Summer Hugs | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, everyone! Toni here with you today sharing a card using one of my favorite color combo of blues and reds. It’s fab all the time but especially with summer nearly upon us.

    I cut out the Floral Star Layering Dies using MB Sunny Orange & Berry Red 6×6 paper to create a large floral focal point for the card.

    Notice how I used a portion of what I had trimmed off to form the tip of another blossom on the card front.

    I then foiled and cut out the Hugs Sugar Scripts Hot Foil Plate & Die using a leftover piece of Spellbinders Glimmer Polished Brass Hot Foil. Swoon!

    I cut out the Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers using MB Stormy Blue 6×6 Paper to coordinate with the background checks (talk about a summery pattern!).

    I was going to sponge the Eucalyptus Stem & Berries Contour Layers but decided I liked them in white.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and have a great rest of your week!

    Supplies

    MBF008 Posh Hugs craft die

    56118 Floral Star Layer Set

    57487 Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers

    57496 Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layers

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    SP1006 Stormy Blue 6×6 pack

  • Tropical Hibiscus | by Crystal Komara

    Tropical Hibiscus | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today and I’m so excited to be sharing my first card(s) created with the beautiful new Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering Dies! I am so in love with this spring’s new release of the contour layering dies, they are just g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! If you missed some of my previous posts using similar dies, check out this post where I used the Star Flower Contour Layering Dies, or, this one where I used the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering Dies. The options are truly endless when it comes to adding colored (and foil or glitter) cardstock with these dies.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. This is my go-to cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from card bases, die cutting, ink blending, Copic coloring, digital stamps and so much more. It is the only white cardstock (aside from watercolor paper) that I used. For the first layer, I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of white cardstock and used the Blooming 3D Embossing Folder from Birch Press Designs’ sister company, Memory Box. To create the flowers, I die cut the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies from various shades of pink cardstock found in the Berry Red 6″ paper pack.

    I die cut the pistils or stigma of the flowers from yellow cardstock in the Sunny Orange 6″ paper pack. Lastly, I cut the leaves (also from the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies) from two different colored green cardstock found in the Lush Green 6″ paper pack. I assembled the layers of each flower and leaf together using a fine-tip glue. Then I adhered all of the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment “sending birthday hugs” in pink ink. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set. I used a 2″ circle punch to punch out the circle before adhering to the card.

    Because I had die cut so many flowers and leaves, I created a second card, only this time I used black cardstock as the base for the flowers (in lieu of white). I love a black background with floral cards, it really allows the colors to pop! I also swapped out the sentiment and used “celebrate today” from the same Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

    I hope you have enjoyed these very details cards. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    EF1014 Blooming 3D Embossing Folder

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    57486 Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    CL8157 Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set